Photo of P. D. James
Open Library

P. D. James

1920–2014

2 series 17 books in order 1 standalone book

P. D. James was an English crime writer and Conservative life peer in the House of Lords, most famous for a series of detective novels starring policeman and poet Adam Dalgliesh. She lived from 1920 to 2014.

Born
1920
Known for
Cordelia Gray, Adam Dalgliesh

Series by P. D. James

Cordelia Gray

2 books in order · 1972–1991

Adam Dalgliesh

14 books in order · 1962–2008

Standalone books

Frequently asked questions

How many books has P. D. James written?

We list 17 books by P. D. James across 2 series, published between 1962–2008 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read P. D. James's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “An Unsuitable Job for a Woman.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy P. D. James's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Bibliography and reading orders compiled from verified bibliographic data. Spotted an error? We continuously correct the catalog.